At least, the key had been carefully kept by Cruello.
Elin turned it into a topic for idle conversation.
“When Ares died, it was you who took the key, right?”
“What does it matter?”
“There was still the energy of Pebula left at the scene. Since I had Pebula’s artifact, it wasn’t difficult to recognize it.”
So that’s how she knew.
That explanation drained the strength from Daedire’s body.
An artifact... well, unless one is a true follower, it’s not something you can even properly use. She could keep it if she liked.
“While you were in hiding, I did some more investigating into you. To be honest, I didn’t really care much before when I was hearing your story.”
“Should I be grateful?”
“Seems like you’ve been researching all sorts of things about Pebula. Even though you’re one of her followers, I guess you didn’t know much about it?”
Daedire could guess where this was going. Elin was likely going to start up with the “Pebula as an evil god” theory again.
Why was she still dragging it out when Daedire had already figured it all out long ago?
“Since you seem curious, I’ll give you an answer. Pebula is indeed an evil god.”
Even though Daedire knew this was nonsense, she glanced at Cruello. He wore the same unreadable expression as hers.
“The saint back then offered up human sacrifices. It wasn’t by force. Volunteers were selected through a rigorous process.”
“I didn’t know even sacrifices had an interview process.”
“The chosen sacrifices were given one of the many names of the god, becoming vessels for their chosen avatars. It was a position of great honor.”
“Cruello, how long do I have to listen to this?”
“Well, I think she’s trying to drag it out. As far as I know, there’s no backup reinforcements coming.”
Elin didn’t seem to care for the mocking tone and continued her explanation, seemingly enjoying herself. She was, in a way, quite fitting as a teacher in the twisted sense.
“According to worldly morality, receiving human sacrifices would be an unspeakable evil. But how then, could Pebula preserve her name as a god?”
“I suppose the saint got disqualified for being a piece of trash.”
“No, it’s proof that the concept of good and evil didn’t matter to the ancient gods. The idea that a priest would always stand opposite a necromancer was a mere prejudice.”
At those words, Daedire froze for a moment. Elin’s eyes, gleaming with madness, reflected a strange light from her two spheres.
“The ancient gods are, in essence, absolute energy bound by concepts. If one believes them to be good, they become gods. If one believes them to be evil, they become demons. And if one believes they’re neither, they become spirits.”
A recent memory flashed in Daedire’s mind, two pieces of material she had read:
“The shape formed by the storm resembled the legendary beast. At first, it was thought to be a divine beast, but soon it was recognized as a spirit.”
The Bonetti family, who summoned spirits using Pebula’s divine energy.
“I want to test how far the divine energy of the ancient gods can be transformed. This way, we can increase the number of followers the cult can embrace. Spirits are just one possibility among many.”
And then the saint’s words about testing possibilities.
So, this...
“That’s the essence of it. Now you should understand what I’m trying to say.”
A cold sweat ran down Daedire’s back. Elin wore a mocking smile, feigning pity as she looked at her.
“In Dillon’s office, there’s a portrait of the saint who offered up the sacrifices. Very few people in the church know its true identity. So, you wouldn’t have known either.”
Why is it there?
Before she could fully form the question, the answer appeared in her mind. And just as she realized it, Elin spoke the answer aloud.
“That person was the first high priest of the Black Serpent. They enlisted those who sought to create Morion and made them a part of the truth. They turned the teachings of the god into the doctrines of demons.”
Daedire’s heartbeat started to race irregularly, her chest growing heavier.
She couldn’t speak, merely listening to Elin’s monologue.
“The stories and fates of gods like Pebula—if there are happy endings, there must be tragic ones. If there are joyous destinies, there are also dreadful ones.”
At the end of her long speech, the snake that had been writhing in agony suddenly recovered its form. The shadow that had surrounded Nigellia began to lift its head and move.
The hissing sound of it crawling along the ground filled the air, as red lights flickered from every shadow around them.
What was hidden in the darkness was nothing but snakes.
“You’ve accepted the idea that Pebula is a god, but the truth is, we serve the same demon. In other words, we’re sisters serving the same being.”
“...Nonsense.”
“Good and evil are opposing values, and when the influence of one is too great, the other cannot exist. Therefore, in the end...”
Elin slid her gloves back on and ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) declared ominously.
“You must die.”
The massive snake, which had been coiled on the ground, sprang toward Daedire.
The attack was clear, and Daedire wasn’t startled. Cruello stepped forward and blocked it.
A large snowflake-shaped shield appeared, stopping the snake in its tracks.
Yet, Elin smiled with delight, her face filled with ecstasy.
“Cruello, I’m just thrilled that you can kill the messenger of the gods right where you stand.”
Without replying, Cruello whispered to Daedire.
“I can handle the snakes.”
There was no mention of Pebula in his words.
At that moment, Daedire’s mind snapped back into focus.
Right, she was letting the enemy’s words distract her too much.
There was no point in getting caught up in such unfounded provocations.
She bit her lip and spoke firmly.
“Keep blocking. I’ll prepare something big.”
Cruello nodded, and at the same time, the snowflake-shaped crystal expanded explosively.
Thin, icicle-like spikes shot out like branches, binding the giant snake and securing the space.
The baby snakes that had tried to slither out of the shadows were frozen by the sharp branches.
It looked like a white spiderweb, but there was no time to admire it.
“Agh! Ah! Ugh!”
Even though Cruello was covering such a large area, he couldn’t block every attack. Daedire ducked, twisted, and jumped, evading strikes as best as she could.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
I skillfully dodged the little snakes and debris flying toward me, quickly reciting a holy incantation.
Damn it, Siora’s body! Even when I raised my divine energy to its fullest, my reflexes were still lacking!
“Ugh, that was close.”
I rolled on the floor to avoid the stained glass shards.
My skin got scratched a little, but I wasn’t seriously hurt.
I tried to get up quickly, but something hard touched my side.
Turning my head, I saw...
“......”
Daedire Crimson, slumped over.
Right, this person was here. I had completely forgotten about him.
He was already bleeding from his forehead, likely scratched or cut by the falling debris.
Hmm.
“Sorry about that.”
I apologized in advance, feeling I wouldn’t be able to protect him.
He’d probably be fine.
I roughly knew what kind of conversation had gone on here.
While they were talking, Cruello and I had already been near the chapel, and with my enhanced senses, I had caught snippets of their words.
It seemed that Daedire Crimson couldn’t abandon his unruly childhood friend and came here for a noble sacrifice.
It was Cruello who knocked Daedire out, but well, he must have been prepared for that.
Besides, she was a Secret Investigator, so she must have been willing to risk her life...
“Why am I so meddlesome?”
Cruello, what are you doing?
Screaming, I grabbed Daedire by the collar and tumbled with him.
While I recited holy incantations in my mind, dodging minor attacks and trying to protect others’ lives, my head was spinning.
So, Daedire’s head ended up hitting a pillar, but at this point, whatever.
“Ugh.”
Oh, that seemed to work in our favor.
Daedire frowned and slowly opened his eyes.
I smiled and asked,
“Are you awake?”
“Re, Siora?”
“Great, then!”
I was about to tell him to join the fight but kept my mouth shut.
Why had I knocked Daedire out in the first place?
Who knows what Elin might say next, so I guess it’s better not to?
Just then, a gate started to open behind Daedire.
Cruello must have been watching the situation here.
Sigh. Fine, I’ll reduce the burden at least.
“Why was I unconscious...?”
“Well, now go away!”
Dodging a flying snake, I kicked Daedire and sent him into the gate.
She gasped as she was sucked into it.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead.
“Phew.”
This is the true life of a sage!
Once again, I had saved someone’s life.
“Stop hesitating and move!”
“I know, aaaah!”
At Cruello’s shout, I tumbled again.
In the process, I hit my head, and the pain was unbearable.
Ugh, do I really have to live like this?
But I didn’t have the luxury to feel sorry for myself.
Clutching my head, I had to run around like a wild stallion with fire on its tail.
Given the situation, it took twice as long to recite the incantations as it usually would.
If I had a lot of divine power to work with, like when I used Beatitudo, I could just push through with quantity, but if I used my own divine energy for this, my body would be reduced to rags.
Alright, then I’ll just buy some time.
I quickly zeroed in on Elin’s weak spot that I’d just observed.
“Question! Teacher, question!”
For just a moment, the attack stopped.
See, I knew it!
Elin looked at me in disbelief.
“Teacher? Question?”
“No, no, you didn’t explain enough!”
I could tell just from how she rambled on earlier without being asked.
This woman loves explaining things.
I gasped for breath and set up the stage for Elin.
To put it bluntly, I said whatever came to mind.
“Are you a god of stories, or do you worship the evil god? Don’t you have any unsolved stories?”
“...What absurd nonsense.”
“No, no, it’ll be interesting. Listen.”
Finally, I could wipe the blood off my forehead.
Ugh, my situation.
“When you accused me of being the next high priest, you already knew I was a follower of Pebula. What did you think would happen if I used my divine power to clear my name?”